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Manchester United the World’s Most Valuable Football Club

Hi guys,Forbes valued the Barclays Premier League champion at US$2.235 billion, a 20% increase on last year. United has topped the list since it first began in 2004 and its global fan base of some 330 million grants it the title of sport’s most valuable team, $385 million ahead of Major League Baseball’s New York Yankees and the National Football League’s Dallas Cowboys.

Forbes’ figures for the 2010-11 season stated that the team’s run to the UEFA Champions League final brought a 22% rise in broadcast revenue to $192 million. However, the club’s early exit from this season’s competition will affect next year’s figures.

Real Madrid boosted its value by 29% to $1.877 billion. Real posted the highest operating income of Forbes’ top 20, $214 million, $36 million more than second-placed United. This was boosted by commercial revenues of $250 million, second only to Bayern Munchen, thanks to major deals with the likes of Adidas, Emirates and Bwin.

Real’s bitter La Liga rival FC Barcelona took third position with a valuation of $1.307 billion (+34%). Barcelona’s defeat of United in the Champions League final allowed it to secure a broadcast revenue high of $266 million, while the impact of its new shirt sponsorship deal with the Qatar Foundation will boost its position further next year.

Arsenal was positioned fourth with a value of $1.292 billion (+8%), with Bayern narrowly behind it on $1.235 billion (+18%). These figures came despite a disappointing season for the German giant on the pitch, with Bayern finishing third in the 1.Bundesliga and exiting the Champions League at the first knockout stage.

However, Bayern is No.1 on the commercial front and Forbes reports it pulled in $258 million in 2010-11, $36 million alone coming through its partnership with Adidas.

The remainder of the top 10 comprised AC Milan ($989 million, +18%), Chelsea ($761 million, +16%), Liverpool ($619 million, +12%) and Juventus ($591 million, -8%). The Bundesliga’s Schalke 04 occupied 10th spot with a massive gain in valuation of 56% ($587 million). This was assisted by its surprise run to the Champions League semi-finals last season. [Source: Sport Business]